For The Love Of Port

I am moving some pieces here from another thread:

I am finally opening up one of the bottles from my last case of 1983 Cockburn's. - Tue Jan 12, 2010 4:11 pm

While waiting for some responses to the wax capsule removal part to the thread, I'll report on the 1983. It was tonged, by my daughter. At a half hour into the decant time, the nose still smells beautiful and no signs of TCA. I had to be a pessimist but I've been surprised at 5 hours in the past, when out of the blue and all of a sudden the tainted aromatics were clearly present.
So all I can do is wait and hope ... or drink right now.
I will take a glass now, so even if it winds up with a negative outcome, I'll have enjoyed one glass early. Tue Jan 12, 2010 5:45 pm

Praise the lord.
Seven and a quarter hours in and finally, after 8 bottles spanning nearly 5 years, I have come across another excellent bottle of 1983 Cockburn's. Andy's post was spot on in terms of how upsetting this bottling can be. Fortunately, I have been a very happy camper. One four ounce pour in front of me now, after sipping the majority of the bottle, it is such a fun feeling to have a good bottle. I saved about 5 ounces for tomorrow which will be had in 2 distinct day parts to meaure its full showing. Wed Jan 13, 2010 12:15 am

I had some more earlier, just before dinner. At about +26 hours, this was still holding up nicely. A bit spirity on the nose and I feared it would be really hot today, but that was not the case. There's some "red hots" as in the cinnamon candies and pine needle scents along with spearmint that now dominate the nose together. The palate is medium-full and really light and silky texturally. The acidity is on the low side but just enough to keep things from going to syrupy (it was not like that on day 1 though) and there's no signs of tannins today as they've full integrated at this point. Figs, raisins and chocolate are all equal partners on the palate with just a modest bit of heat on the finish with an aftertaste reminiscent of Raisinettes. Overall, I am really pleased and I have another couple of ounces to go before deciding between 92-93 points. I am thrilled to have this rare opportunity.

Congratulations on a rare un-corked bottle!

+30 hours. No real change since earlier today, except for a slightly longer and smoother finish. 93 points.
What changed my losing streak? If I had to pick anything, it would be my daughter using a Port tongs for the first time although I realize if TCA was in the bottle, it would not have changed anything.

Congratulations. I have a single bottle of this arriving today and have a new sense of optimism.

Must've had this vintage 4-6 times and only one good bottle, and man what a good bottle that was! Super rich and decedent. Hard to think of a better 80's vintage when the '83 Cockburn is a good one.

Great to hear of a non-corked bottle of this. Out of about 6 bottles of this I've only had one that wasn't corked.

I don't know that I've ever mentioned this publicly, but Derek and I had lunch with Miguel Corte-Real in October after the Harvest Tour guests all left. I asked him outright what Cockburn's would be willing to do for people who were sitting on stocks of TCA infected bottles and if they'd be willing to take them back in exchange for a younger vintage. He was apologetic and understanding, but said they could not do that. Just so it is clear that at least I asked the question that had never been broached so directly. It felt like this but Miguel was very sincere and due to the fact that Cockburn's is now controled by the SFE lots of this is out of his hands anyway.

Roy Hersh wrote:I asked him outright what Cockburn's would be willing to do for people who were sitting on stocks of TCA infected bottles and if they'd be willing to take them back in exchange for a younger vintage. He was apologetic and understanding, but said they could not do that. Just so it is clear that at least I asked the question that had never been broached so directly.

Thanks! Always wondered what they'd say. Interesting.

Since this thread went way off topic and became a very interesting thread in itself, I felt it deserved it's own separate thread in the Port Forum. So it was split to this topic HERE